Silicon Benefits to Crops and Soils In New Jersey.

Findings from twelve years of field trials conducted on the silicon soil fertility research plots at Rutgers University, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station show that calcium silicate slag is both an effective liming material and silicon fertilizer.  Crops grown on calcium silicate slag amended soil exhibited increased silicon uptake.  Pumpkin fruit and wheat grain yields were increased in some years in association with suppression of powdery mildew disease on calcium silicate slag amended soil.  Corn plants grown on soil previously amended with calcium silicate slag exhibited less injury to the stem tissue from European corn borer.   Forage yields were similarly improved by liming low pH soil with either calcium carbonate or calcium silicate slag.  Cabbage yields were improved by liming low pH soil but calcium silicate slag increased marketable head yields more than calcium carbonate.  The residual benefits of calcium silicate slag applications were evident in crops produced 3 to 4 years after the last application.  In summary, field trials using calcium silicate slag finds that enhanced levels of silicon uptake sometimes imparts crop production benefits beyond its service as a liming material.  Enhanced silicon soil fertility and nutrition often helps to control powdery mildew disease on a wide variety of crops.